BBC Strictly star Lewis Cope's secret dancing history revealed amid 'fix' claims

Lewis Cope has a secret dance past - and he is favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC show is back for another series, with 14 more celebrities who are all hoping to life the Glitterball Trophy.

Every year, there has been talk about some of the celebrities' dancing backgrounds and no less so this year - with fans shocked to hear of Emmerdale star Lewis' dance background.

Judge and former Strictly Come Dancing pro Anton du Beke even opened up about former dancers being on the show as celebrities. Speaking to The Mirror, Anton said: "Some people might have done some dancing but it wont have been fox trots and cha-chas. It will be mainly musical theatre or commercial. It will help them a bit. There is a small advantage to it really.

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"I have not seen many of those who have actually won. The deciding vote it always yours. You know what becomes difficult, they come out week one and they are really good and they get to week ten and they are a bit the same. They haven't improved much."

Lewis started dancing when he was 10-years-old and has appeared in a dancing competition. He was part of the group Ruff Diamond, who danced on Sky TV's show Got to Dance competition, where he performed for the three judges including Diversity star Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Aston Merrygold.

Speaking about their routine, Ashley said: "You guys just absolutely smashed your own bar. You have to know that you are brilliant because you are up there with the best that has been on that stage."

The group also performed with the cast of EastEnders for Children in Need and represented the UK at the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas. Lewis quit the group in 2015 when he was 20.

He went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Lewis - who played Nicky on Emmerdale - signed up for the show at the last minute following Kristian's exit.

Speaking about signing up for the show so quickly after finding out, he said: "I think, if anything, it’s probably helped me because I haven’t really had time to think about it or anything so now the excitement has kind of just taken over."

Lewis also said he was hoping to impress Shirley Ballas the most out of all the judges. Others appearing on the show include Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, Chris Robshaw, Dani Dyer, Ellie Goldstein, George Clarke, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey AKA Nitro, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Karen Carney, La Voix, Ross King, Stefan Dennis, Thomas Skinner and Vicky Pattison.

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